St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03

DA--0'
ure-Opposing the Franco-Prussian War
How he Met His Son-in-law-Other Traits
Among the crowd of brilliant equipages
that fill the Boulevard des ltaliens, PARIS
any fine afternoon, may be seen a stately
carriage drawn by four richly capar-
isoned horses A man Of medium size,
but of compact figure, is the only occu-
pant of the vehicle. His features are
regular and have a very agreeable ex-
preston, while his whole bearing marks
him as man of distinction. His hair
and mustache are white, and as he raises
his hat to acknowledge the salutes from
the passing carriages and gentlemen ON
the sidewalk, you notice that he is bald
He is past three-score and ten, but looks
like well-preserved man Of sixty. He
is the most noticed man on the boule-
ward, but he seems entirely unconscious
of the fact The quiet unpretentious
little man is Jules Grevy, President of
the French republic. Born in 1918, he
was educated for the bar, and became one
of the greatest lawyers of France. Turn
ing his attention to politics, he became
member of the Legislative Assembly OF
194S, under the second republic, and
member of the Corps Legislatif in 1868,
under the second empire, opposing every
measure of the government of Napoleon
III. He became very conspicuous by the
\ urhi nh no
the plebiscite of 1870. When France de-
clared wsr against Prussia in July OF
that year, NJ. Grevy Joined Theirs in
vigorous opposition to it, declaring with
patriotic fervor that the ministers were
false to their sacred trust, and untrue to
the best interests of France, when they
plunged their country into war for
which she was wholly unprepared.
After the fall of the empire, Jules
Grevy, On the 9Th of September, de-
handed that the government of National
Defense, which had been formed after
Sedan, should issue an order for the cleo
ton of National Assembly. Retiring
to his home in the Jura, he made fire.
quent visits to Tours, where in the salon
of the Hotel de Bordeaux were wont to
meet certain personages for political con-
sultation. Among these was NJ. Daniel
Wilson, whose sister, Madame Pelouze,
took deep interest in the conspiracy"
as it was called. They met in the even
ing in her parlor on the first floor Of the
hotel. The lady was described by q
writer of the time as being truly very
engaging, strong patriot, blonde, and
lsrh = Lo 81 how
was the beginning of the acquaintance
gentlemen would have listened with in
credulous establishment had they been
told that, within less than ten years, one
would become the President of the
French republic and the other his SON.
in-law.
When Marshal Mcmahon resigned in
1879, NJ. Grevy was elected President of
the French republic, and it is said he re-
paired to the Palais de PElysee, like
certain former President of the United
States to the Capitol at Washington,
simply and without the slightest ostenta-
ton. He has filled that illustrious posi-
ton to the satisfaction of the great ma
jority of his countrymen. Since his ele-
vation to the supreme head of affairs
President Grevy has been obliged to
modify his former simple life while
Paris advocate, but he gladly escapes
from the city to spend his vacation at La
Grangerie, his ancestral home in the
Jura. Here he is an early riser, and by
six o'clock may be seen sallying forth,
wearing a blue shooting jacket and carry
ing a gun on his shoulder. AS he goes
along he stops every now and then at the
door of q cottage to have moments
chat. Such familiarity makes him sort
of an idol among his humble neighbors,
all of whom regard him as the ideal presi-
dent OF a real republic.